Apparatus for controlling the movement of a yarn guide bar

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for controlling the lateral movement of a yarn guide bar along a row of knitting needles, comprises a stroke control device, and a direction control device connecting the output of the stroke control device with the yarn guide bar. The stroke control device has a swing lever system driven from a rotary cam and adjusted by selector units controlled by program controlled first electromagnets so that the stroke of the output member of the stroke control device is varied. The motion of the output member is transmitted by the direction control device to the guide bar, but the direction of movement can be reversed by program controlled second electromagnets in the direction control device.

United States Patent [1 1 Kolar et al. Apr. 9, 1974 [54] APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE 3,628,354 12/ I971 Farwell 66/86 MOVEMENT OF A YARN GUIDE BAR Primary ExaminerRonald Feldbaum [75] Inventors: Vladimir Kolar, Brno; Ervin Peschl,

Ceska U both of Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm Michael S. Striker Czechoslovakia ABSTRACT Assigneel vykumny f Pletarsky, Brno An apparatus for controlling the lateral movement of Czechoslovakla a yarn guide bar along a row of knitting needles, com- [22] Filed; Sept 12 1972 prises a stroke control device, and a direction control device connecting the output of the stroke control de- PP 288,322 vice with the yarn guide bar. The stroke control de vice has a swing lever system driven from a rotary cam 52 us. Cl 66/86 R and adjusted by Selector units controlled by Program [51] Int. Cl D04b 23/00 controlled first electromagnets so that the Stroke of 58 Field of Search 66/86, 87 the Output member of the Stroke Control device is V ied. The motion of the output member is transmitted 5 References Cited by the direction control device to the guide bar, but UNITED STATES PATENTS the direction of movement can be reversed by pro 3 478 543 11/1969 F 66/86 gram controlled second electromagnets in the direcamnger 3,456,461 7/1969 Offermann et al 66/86 control deuce 3,678,7l 1 7/1972 Schneider 66/86 9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures ST/QOIF 60/77/4 01 DA'k/L' l2? /P4 Q9 PATENTED APR 9 i974 SHEET 1 [IF 4 ATENTEDAPR 9l974 SHEET u 0F 4 APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF A YARN GUIDE BAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with an apparatus for controlling the lateral movement of guide bars along theneedle bar of a warp knitting machine, or of a similar machine, such as a Raschel machine.

In knitting machines of this type, each guide bar carries a row of yarn guides having eyelets which are arranged singly or in groups on a bar which is slidably guided in the bearing of the angularly displaceable shaft of the yarn guide bar. The yarn guide bar not only performs an angular motion about the yarn guide shaft, but also a lateral reciprocating motion along the respective needle bar carrying knitting needles. Such lateral movement in the longitudinal direction of the guide bar is not only carried out in a position in which the guides on the guide bar are located rearwards of the hooks of the knitting needle, but also in a position in which the yarn guides are located forwardly of the knitting needles. The length of the lateral movement of the yarn guide bar forwardly of the knitting needle is usually shorter than the length of the lateral movement of the yarn guide bar rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles. The stroke of the guide bar rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles, is usually greater than the length of the stroke forward of the knitting needles.

The length and directionof the lateral stroke of the yarn guide bar along the needle bar are dependent on a predetermined knitting pattern, and change almost at every operational cycle of the knitting machine. The control of such lateral guide bar movement constitutes a very difficult problem, which is rendered particularly difficult due to the fact that very high operational speeds are desirable at all lengths of the stroke of the guide .bar.

In known warp knitting machines, the above described lateral movement of the yarn guide bar is controlled by cams or by a pattern and chain, while more modern apparatus uses electrohydraulic or electromagnetic apparatus. The first type of control apparatus does not permit a very high speed of the machine, and it is time consuming and difficult to adjust the apparatus, while the second type of apparatus is expensive and not completely reliable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of known apparatus for adjusting and controlling the movements ofa yarn guide bar, and to provide a control apparatus for the yarn guide bar which permits a very high operational speed of the knitting machine, while operating reliably.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for this purpose which can be accurately adjusted and set to a desired lateral stroke of a yarn guide bar.

In accordance with the invention, the length of the stroke of the yarn guide bar is derived from a swing lever system driven by a continuously rotating cam, and controlled by electromagnetically controlled selector units whose electromagnets are energized in accordance with program control means in which the desired knitting pattern is stored. The apparatus of the invention further includes a direction control device in which the variable stroke of the output member of the stroke control device, is either directly transmitted to the guide bar, or reversed for moving the guide bar in the opposite direction. The direction control device is also operated by program controlled electromagnets whose energization in accordance with a predetermined program causes movement of the guide bar either in one direction or in the opposite direction.

One embodiment of the invention comprises a stroke control device including input means and output means, a drive means, preferably a rotary cam, for displacing the input means, preferably a cam follower means, so that the output means is moved, and first program controlled electromagnetic means selectively operable for placing the stroke control device in a plurality of conditions in which the output means performs strokes of different lengths; and a direction control device connecting the output means with the yarn guide bar, and including second program controlled electromagnetic means for placing the direction control device selectively in a first condition in which the guide bar is moved in one direction, and a second condition in which the guide bar is moved in the opposite direction. 1

In this manner the length of the stroke in the direction of the movements of the guide bar are determined in accordance with the program. The apparatus has a third condition in which the electromagnetic means are deenergized so that the guide bar is not operated from the output means of the stroke control device.

In a preferred embodiment, the stroke control device includes a swing lever system connected with the output means of the stroke control device, and a plurality of swing lever selector units respectively including program controlled electromagnets, and being operated by the same to influence the swing lever system to vary the stroke of the output means so that equal displacements of the input means of the stroke control device, result in different displacements of the output means and of the yarn guide bar.

The novel features which are considered as charac- .teristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation,

, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGS. 1 and 2 together illustrate an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 being a fragmentary front view of a direction control device, and FIG. 2 being a fragementary front elevation of a stroke control device, partially shown in section;

FIG. 3 to FIG. 9 are fragmentary schematic views illustrating different operational conditions of the stroke control device shown in FIG. 2 for obtaining strokes of different lengths of the output means of the stroke control device; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary schematic plan view illustrating the movements of yarn guides carried by the yarn guide bar in relation to a row of knitting needles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, a yarn guide bar 1 provided with feeding needles la having eyes for a yarn, is mounted in a suspension 2 for longitudinal movement, and also for transverse angular movement. A link 3 connects guide bar 1 with a lever 4 which is mounted on a pivot 5 secured to the machine frame 6 so that the guide bar 1 can perform movements between the knitting needles 130, as particularly shown in FIG. 10. The free end of lever 4 is disposed between two rollers 7 and 8 which are turnable about pivots 9 and 10 arranged at the end of a rack bar 11. Above the rack bar 11, which is mounted in a guide groove 12 of the machine frame 6 for longitudinal rectilinear movement, a control device is provided by which the reversal of the movement of the guide bar 1 and also standstill of guide bar 1 can be obtained. The control device includes a lever 14 which is mounted on a fixed pivot 13 of the machine frame 6 for angular movement and has a free end provided with a fork l5 embracing a roller 16 which is turnable about a pivot 17 of a L-shaped carrier 18, which carries on ,a pivot 19 a freely rotatable gear 20 which is in meshing engagement with the rack bar 11. The straight upper edge 21 of carrier 18 slidingly abuts a straight guide portion 22 of the machine frame 6 so that carrier 18 can be reciprocated along a straight path. Above gear 20, a two armed lever 23 is mounted for angular movement on a pivot 24 secured to a bracket 25 of machine frame 6. The left end of the two armed lever 23 is provided with an oval guide 26 forming a guide slot 27 in which a stud 28 of a slide 29 is slidingly mounted. Slide 29 is mounted for free movement in a vertical guide groove in the arm 31 of carrier 18 between a position engaging gear 20 and coupled by the same with rack bar 11, and another position shown for another slide 47, located outside of the recesses of the gear 20. The lower end of slide 29 is tapered to reliably engage a recess in the periphery of gear 20.

The other end of the two armed lever 23 is provided with a fixed armature 33 which cooperates with an electromagnet 34 which, when energized under the control of a program, attracts armature 33 and the free end of lever 23 so that lever 23 assumes the illustrated position. A coil spring 35 abuts bracket 25 and lever 23 to urge the same away from the electromagnetic means 34 when the same is not energized. Another electromagnet 57 is shown in FIG. 1 to cooperate with the armature 58 of another two armed lever 54 which is urged by a spring 59 away from electromagnet 57.

Between fork l5 and fulcrum pivot 13, another pivot pin 36 is carried by lever 14. One end of a link 37 is mounted on pivot pin 36, while its other end is pivotally connected by a pin 38 with a lever 39 whose fulcrum pin 40 is supported by a portion of frame 6. The free end of the two armed lever 39 carries a fork 41 embracing a roller 42 which is tumable about a pivot 43 of a carrier 44 which corresponds to carrier 18, and has a pivot 45 on which a gear 46 is mounted. The upper edge of carrier 44 slidingly engages the straight guide portion 22 of machine frame 6. Gear 46 is in constant meshing engagement with the rack bar 11. As described for gear 20, the tapered portion 47 of a slide 48 projects into a recess of gear 46, and the slide 48 is guided in a vertical guide groove 49 of the carrier arm 50.

Theslide 48 carries a stud 51 which is freely guided in a longitudinal slot 52 of an oval guide 53 which is secured to one end of lever 54 which is freely turnable about the pivot 55 fixed to a bracket 56 of the machine frame 6. Bracket 56 carries the electromagnet 57 which cooperates with the armature 58 provided at the left end of the double armed lever 54 to attract lever 54 when energized, permitting coil spring 59 to move lever 54 away from the electromagnetic means 57 when the same is not energized. The link 60 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is the input means of control device of FIG. 1, and connected by a pivot 62 with lever 14 and by a pivot 63 with a swing beam lever 64, so that link 60 is also the output means of another controldevice shown in FIG. 2.

In the position illustrated in FIG. 1, electromagnet 34 is energized, so that the coupling 29, 32 and 20 is engaged, and rack bar 11 moved in one direction together with guide bar 1, when input link 60 is displaced. When electromagnetic means 57 is energized and electromagnetic means 34 deenergized, the coupling 29, 32 and 20 is disengaged, while the coupling 48, 47 and 46 is engaged. Since the forked end 41 of lever 39 moves to the right when input link 60 moves to the left as viewed in FIG. 1, the rack bar 11 is moved in the opposite direction when in the illustrated position. Consequently, the device shown in FIG. 1 is a direction control device, for reciprocating the guide bar 1, and when both electromagnetic means 34 and 57 are deenergized, transmission of motion between input link 60 and guide bar 1 is interrupted.

Evidently, the length of the stroke of guide bar 1 depends on the length of the stroke of the input link 60 of the direction control device, and this stroke length is determined by the stroke control device shown in FIG. 2.

The stroke control device shown in FIG. 2, whose output means only link 60 includes in the illustrated embodiment three swing lever selector units A, B, C, whose number may be increased or reduced. Swing lever selector 64 has a pivot 63 articulated to link 60,

and two fork portions 65 and 66 at the ends to embrace rollers 67 and 71, respectively. The pivot 68 of roller 67 is provided at the end of a rod 69, which is guided in a gudie means 70 mounted on the machine frame 6. Roller 71 has a pivot 72 which is carried by a rod 73 of the swing lever selector unit C. The left end of rod 73 has a thin stepped portion 75 on which a coil spring 74 is mounted, which abuts on an abutment 76 of the machine frame 6, and urges rod 73 to the right as viewed in FIG. 2, into engagement with an abutment plate portion 77" of the swing lever selector unit C which is part of an abutment plate including another abutment plate portion 77 in the swing lever selector unit B, and a further abutment plate portion 77 in the swing lever selector unit A. Abutment plate portion 77 cooperates with a rod 88, and abutment plate portion 77 cooperates with a rod 83, as will be described later on in greater detail.

Link 69 is connected by a pivot 78 with a swing lever 79 which has two arms of different length provided with forks 80 and 81, respectively. The fork 80 embraces roller 82 mounted on the rod 83 of the swing lever selector unit A. The left end of a rod 83 has a stepped portion 84 on which a coil spring 85 is mounted which abuts a fixed abutment 86, and urges rod 83 to the right as viewed in FIG. 2 toward the abutment plate portion 77.

The fork 81 of swing lever 79 embraces a roller 87 mounted on the rod 88 of the swing lever selector unit B. The left end of rod 88 is provided with a stepped portion 89 on which a coil spring 90 is mounted which abuts an abutment 91 of the machine frame 6, and urges rod 88 toward the right as viewed in FIG. 2 into engagement with abutment plate portion 77.

The connecting rods 83, 88 and 73 of the three swing lever selector units A, B and C, are provided with sleeves 92, 92', and 92", respectively, which are slidably mounted in corresponding annular guides 93, 93" of the machine frame 6. Each sleeve 92, 92', 92" is provided with a projecting portion 94, 94', 94" respectively, and the projecting portions have radially extending holes in which catches 95, 95, 95" are mounted, respectively, which have tapered end portions 96, 96', 96" which are engageable with arresting recesses 97, 97, 97" in the end portions of connecting rods 83, 88, 73, respectively. Catch 95, whose outer end portion has a slanted end face 98, carries a pin 99 with a roller 100 located in an elongated slot formed by an oblong annular member 101 of a two armed lever 102 which is mounted on a pivot 104 of a bracket 103 on the machine frame 6. The end portion 105 of the lever 102 is constructed as an armature cooperating with an electromagnet 106 mounted on machine frame 6. A coil spring 107 urges armature 105 away from electromagnet 106 when the latter is not energized. Turning of lever 102 about pivot 104 will cause engagement or disengagement between the connecting rod 83 and catch 95, 96 and sleeve 92.

Sleeve 92 of the swing lever selector unit A is connected by a pivot pin 108 with a control rod 109 whose other end is connected by a pivot 110 with a cam follower member 111 which carries on a pin 117, a cam follower roller 116, cooperating with a rotary control cam 118. Cam follower member 111 constitutes the input means of stroke control device illustrated in FIG. 2. Cam follower member 111 is guided by two cylindrical guide portions 112, 113 in corresponding annular guides 114 secured to the machine frame 6. Coil springs 115 are mounted on guide portions 112 and 113 to bias the cam follower member 111 to the right so that the cam follower roller 116 on pin 117 engages the cam track of control cam 118 which is secured to a rotary shaft 119, and has a lower cam portion 120 and a higher cam portion 121.

The slanted end face 98 of catch 95 cooperates with a lever 122 mounted on machine frame 6 on a pivot 123 and normally abutting a stop 124 on frame 6.

The connecting rods 88 and 73 of the swing lever selector units B and C are in the same manner as connecting rod 83, provided with sleeves 92, catches 95, two armed levers 102, and electromagnets 106. Corresponding parts pertaining to the swing lever selector units B and C, are provided with the same reference numeral as the corresponding parts of spring lever selector unit A, but provided with a single prime or a double prime, respectively. For example, the arresting recess 97 in connecting rod 88 cooperates with the pointed end portion 96 of the catch 95 and the arresting recess 97" of connecting rod 73 cooperates with a pointed endportion 96" of catch 95". The sleeves 92 and 92" are connected by a connecting piece 125 which is connected by a pivot 126 with a control rod 127 whose free end is connected by a pivot 128 to the other end of the cam follower member 111.

The electromagnets 34, 57 and 106 of the three swing lever selector units A, B and C, of the stroke control device shown in FIG. 2 are individually and independently of each other controlled and energized by electronic program control means, not shown, in accordance with a stored program.

The above described control apparatus operates as follows:

The yarn guide bar 1 with the feeding elements 2 performs, in a known manner, not illustrated, a forward and rearward oscillating movement between the knitting needles 130, as best seen in FIG. 10. The joints at the ends of the link 3 permit such a movement. The control cam 118 is driven to continuously rotate by means connecting shaft 119 with the main drive shaft of the machine. In the illustrated embodiment, control cam 118 performs one revolution for each course of the knitted fabric, while the lower cam portion causes lateral movement of guide bar 1 forwardly of the knitting needles 130, while the higher cam portion 121 causes the lateral movement of guide bar 1 rearwardly of the hooks of the knitting needles 130. The proportion of the range of lateral movement of the guide bar 1 forwardly and rearwardly of the knitting needles 130,

is determined by the ratio between the radial heights of the cam portions 120 and 121 of cam 118.

FIGS. 1 and 10 illustrate the direction control device in its initial position in which the guide bar 1 see FIG. 10, is ready to move in front of the knitting needles 130 out of the right hand end position M- to the left hand end position N for a needle distance. To accomplish this movement, electromagnets 34, 106 and 106' are energized by the electronic program control means, not illustrated.

Control cam 118 rotates in counterclockwise direction so that, while cam follower roller 116 engages the cam section I, first the lower cam portion 120 engages cam roller 116 and displaces the same together with cam follower member 111 to the left. During movement of the cam follower'member 111 in this direction, the guide portions 112, 113 enter into the annular guides 114 against the pressure of the coil springs 115, while the control rods 109 and 127 displace the sleeves 92, 92, 92" by means of pivots 108 and 126 and connecting portion to the left for a distance corresponding to the radial height of the lower cam portion 120.

During the movement of the sleeves 92, 92', 92" of the swing lever selector units A, B, C to the left, the pointed end portions96 and 96 of the catches 95 and 95 have snapped into the arresting recesses 97 and 97 of the connecting rods 83 and 88 so that connecting rods 83 and 88 are moved to the left,- while the sleeve 92" does not take the connecting rod 73 along, since the pointed end portion 96" of catch 95" is not located in the arresting recess 97" of connecting rod 73 due to the fact that electromagnet 106" is not energized, and armature lever 102" is not attractedby electromagnetic means 106" and is urged by spring 107 to a position retracting catch 95".

The movements of the connecting rods 83 and 88 to the left are transmitted by the rollers 82 and 87 to the swing lever 79, and from the same transmitted to the link 69 whose roller 67 acts on the fork 65 which is pushed to the left by roller 67.

Since connecting rod 73 does not move because the right end thereof is pressed by coil spring '75 against the abutment plate portion 77, swing lever 64 is turned by the pressure of roller 67 about roller 71 on connecting rod 73, in clockwise direction. This angular movement of swing lever 64 about roller 71 in counterclockwise direction, and to the left as viewed in FIG. 2, causes a displacement of the input link 60 in the guide bushing 61 which is transmitted to lever 14 which turns about pivot 13 in clockwise direction, so that the fork 15 turns to the left as viewed in FIG. 1.

In the condition of the direction control device shown in FIG. 1, the electromagnet 34 is energized so that the coupling slide 29 of carrier 18 engages one of the recesses of the gear 20 which constantly meshes with rack bar 11. The angular movement of lever 14 about pivot 13 in clockwise direction causes an advance of rack bar 11 to the left as viewed in the drawing, since fork 15 of lever 14, embracing roller 16, moves carrier 18 along the guide edge 22 of the machine frame 6, to the left as viewed in the drawing, while the stud 28 of slide 29 moves in the elongated slot 27 of the annular oblong guide portion 26 of the two armed lever 23.

The advance of rack bar 1 1 to the left, causes a turning of lever 4 about pivot 5 in clockwise direction so that the output link 3 transmts motion to the guide bar 1 which is supported by the suspension means 2. Guide bar 1 performs a yarn laying motion forwardly of the knitting needles 130 out of the end position M to the end position N as shown in FIG. 10, moving a distance determined by the stroke control device shown in FIG. 2 in accordance with the program controlled selective energization of the electromagnets 106 and 106, and the de-energization of electromagnet 106".

When lever 14 turns clockwise, link 37 moves to the left and turns lever 39 in counterclockwise direction so that fork 41 moves to the right which causes a movement of carrier 44 along the stationary guide edge 22 to the right while the respective gear 46 freely rolls on rack bar 11 since the pointed end portion 47 of coupling slide 48 does not engage gear 46. This is due to the fact that the electromagnet 57 was not energized, in accordance with the program, so that spring 59 turns the armature lever54 to a position in which stud 51 is raised by the oblong annular member 56 to a position in which the coupling end portion 47 of slide 48 is spaced from gear 46.

In the moment in which guide bar 1 has arrived in its left end position N forwardly of the knitting needles 130, as shown in FIG. 1, electromagnet 34 is deenergized and releases armature lever 33, 23 which is turned by spring 35 about pivot 24 in clockwise direction so that the pointed coupling end portion 32 of coupling slide 29 is retracted to a disengaged position releasing the recess of gear 20 so that coupling slide 29 assumes a position corresponding to the position illustrated for coupling slide 48 in the left portion of FIG. 1. Since now both electromagnets 34 and 57 are deenergized, a reciprocating motion produced by cam 118 and by the swing lever selector units A, B, C, and transmitted to lever 14, and 39, has no influence on the rack bar 11 whereby no motion is transmitted to the guide bar 1, irrespective of the reciprocation of the cam follower means 111, 116 by cam 118.

When the guide bar 1 has arrived in its left end position N, it turns angularly in suspension 2 to the position P located rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles 130, as shown in FIG. 10. Out of this position P rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles, the guide bar 1 either turns to a position forwardly of the knitting needles 130, without lateral displacement if all electromagnets 106, 106', 106" are deenergized, or the guide bar 1 is laterally displaced along the row of knitting needles which depends on the selective energization of electromagnet 34, or 57, respectively. The extent of such lateral movement rearwardly of the hooks of the knitting needles 130, is determined by the combination of energized and de-energized electromagnets 106, 106' and 106" in which the input Iink 60 of the direction control device is moved by the stroke control device to perform strokes of different lengths, depending on the selective energization of electromagnets 106, 106, 106".

At the moment in which the guide bar 1 arrives in the position rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles 130, cam roller 116 has been turned to a position in which the lower cam portion 120 of cam 118 is no longer acting on cam follower roller 116 since the second section II of cam 118 engages cam follower roller 116 so that to the action of the springs 115, 115' all three swing lever selector units A, B, C and also the levers 14 and 39 return to the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the difference that the cam 118 has turned away from the position shown in FIG. 2.

While guide bar 1 in the position P shown in FIG. 10, is located rearward of the hooks of knitting needles 130, and the swing lever selector units A, B, C, are in the right-hand end position, as shown in FIG. 2, with control cam 118 turned 180 relative to the position shown in FIG. 2, selected electromagnets are energized in accordance with the program control means, which determines the next movement of the guide bar rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles 130, and also determines the length of this movement.

While upon energization of electromagnet 34, the guide bar 1 moves to the left to the position P, the guide bar 1 moves to the right upon energization of the electromagnet 57 to the position R shown in FIG. 10. The length of this movement of the guide bar 1 out of the position P to the position R, corresponds to three neddle distances, which distance corresponds to the selective energization of electromagnets 106, 106, 106" a shown in FIG. 3.

When guide bar 1 arrives in the position R shown in FIG. 10, it performs an angular movement by which it is moved out of position R located rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles 130, to a position S iocated forwardly of the knitting needles 130, moving the distance IV, and during this movement, the control cam 118 also turns through the cam section IV, where the cam follower roller 1 16 is no longer engaged by the high cam portion 121 of cam 118. While the swing lever selector units A, B, C, return due to the action of springs 115, 115 to the initial position, control cam 118 returns to the position shown in FIG. 2.

When the guide bar 1 moves out of position R to the position S, all electromagnets of the apparatus are again de-energized.

The direction of the following lateral movement of guide bar 1 out of position S in front of the knitting needles 130, is determined by energizing either electromagnet 34 or electromagnet 57, while the length or stroke of this lateral movement of the guide bar 1 is determined by the energization of selected electromagnets 106, 106, 106" of the swing lever selector units A, B, C.

Since the guide bar 1 can perform lateral movement in front of the knitting needles 130 only in the region of one or two needle distances, while a corresponding movement rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles 130 can take place between one and seven needle distances, the respective limitation of the stroke of the lateral movement of guide bar 1 in front of knitting needles 130 is obtained by suitable selection of the proportion between the lengths of the arms of the two armed swing levers 79, and 64, assuming that the same control cam 118 is used.

The operation is thereupon repeated with the difference that the lengths of the lateral movements of the guide bar are different as determined by the selection of electromagnets in accordance with the program of the program control means controlling the energization and deenergization of the electromagnets 106, 106', 106".

After the lower cam portion 120 of cam 118 has turned to a position no longer displacing the cam follower roller 116 and the cam follower member 111, springs 85, 89, 75, 115 and 115 are able to return the swing lever system, the three swing lever selector units A, B, C and the movable parts of the direction control device shown in FIG. 1, to the initial position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in which all parts remain until the high cam portion 121 of control cam 118 begins to act on the cam follower roller 116 and on cam follower member 111. The springs 85 and 90 are pressed against the shoulders of the respective connecting rods 83, 88, which are pressed against the abutment plate portions 77 and 77, whereby the swing lever 79 is moved to the right, taking along by connecting rod 69 also swing lever 64 turns in clockwise direction about roller 71 so that the pivot joint 63, together with the input member 60 of the direction control device shown in FIG. 1 are moved to the right as viewed in the drawing.

The movement of swing lever 79 to the right by means of connecting rods 83 and 88, takes place without taking along the catches 95, 95' which, after the deenergization of electromagnet 106, 106, are moved out of the arresting recesses 97, 97' of the connecting rods 83, 88, due to the angular displacement of the two-armed levers 102 and 102 by the springs 107, 107.

As explained above, the pressure of the coil springs 115, 115' also moves the cam follower member 111 from left to right, which, by means of control rods 109, 129 and pivot joints 108, 108 also takes along the sleeves 92, 92' together with the catches 95, 95' which, as mentioned above, were pushed out of the recesses 97, 97 by the springs 85, 90.

At the end of the movement of the connecting rods 83 and 88, and of the sleeves 92, 92 to the right, the pointed end portions 96, 96 of the catches 95, 95 abut the slanted lower ends of the levers 122, 122 which are mounted on the frame 6 for turning movement about pivots 123, 123, and normally abut stops 124, 124', so that the pointed end portions 96, 96 of the catches 95, 95 are again pressed into the arresting recesses 97, 97' of the connecting rods, 83, 88, respectively.

The locking in this coupled position takes place only by those catches 95, 95', 95 whose associated electromagnets 106, 106', 106" were energized, since due to 10' the energization of the respective electromagnet 106, 106' or 106", the respective armature lever 102, 102', 102 with its armature 105, 105', 105" is attracted against the action of springs 107, 107, 107", and assumes a position in which the respective catches 95, 95', 95" engage the respective arresting recesses 97, 97', 97" of the connecting rods 83, 88, and 73.

When the control cam 118 turns through an angle of 180, the entire apparatus is again in the right hand end position. In this moment, the high cam portion 121 of control cam 118 begins to engage cam follower roller 116 of cam follower member 111. Since in the meantime, in the position of rest of control cam 118, guide bar 1 has performed the reciprocating motion over the distance II between the knitting needles 130 during which the guide bar 1 has moved from the end position N in front of the knitting needles 130 to the end position P behind the hooks of the knitting needles 130, as shown in FIG. 10, the guide bar 1 can now perform the lateral movement rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles 130 and this movement is also derived from the high cam portion 121 of cam 118 in the same manner as effected by the low cam portion 120. The length of this lateral movement depends on the energization of electromagnets 106, 106', 106" of the swing lever selector units A, B, C, while the direction of the stroke is determined by the selective energization of one of the electromagnets 34, 57 of the direction control device shown in FIG. 1. If the energization of-the electromagnets would be the same as in the preceding operation, the guide bar 1 would make a new lateral movement to theleft rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles 130, which would be in the same proportion to the shorter stroke effected by the low cam portion 120, as the radial height of the higher cam portion 121 to the radial height of the lower cam portion 120, since the movement of the cam follower roller 116 and cam follower member 111 which constitutes the input means of the stroke control device shwon in FIG. 2, is proportional to the radial height of the cam portions 120 and 121. For the same selective energization of the electromagnets 106, 106', 106", the above explained lateral motion of guide bar 1 in longitudinal direction of guide bar 1 is proportional to the heights of the cam portions 120, 121 of the cam 118.

It should be noted that due to variation in the energization of electromagnets 34, 57, the direction control system shown in FIG. 1, can effect variations in the lateral movement of the guide bar 1. Assuming that electromagnet 34 is energized, as shown in FIG. 1, and the guide bar 1 moves out of the illustrated position, under the control of the stroke control device including swing lever selector units A, B, C, guide bar 1 moves under the control of cam 118 and of the stroke control device shown in FIG. 2 to the right, if electromagnet 57 is energized, and the previously energized electromagnet 34 is de-energized.

of needle distances which guide bar 1 moves, can be obtained. During each complete revolution of control cam 118, guide bar 1, controlled by the low cam portion 120, performs a lateral movement for one or two needle distances in front of the knitting needles 130, and under the influence of the high cam portion 121, a further movement rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles 130 which movement may be between one and seven needle distances R long. Evidently, the lateral movement of the guide bar 1 can be effected forward or rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles The ratio between the stroke lengths I and Ill of the lateral movements of guide bar 1 forwardly and rearwardly of the knitting needles 130, as shown in FIG. 10, with the same selective energization of the electromagnets 106, 106', 106 of the swing lever selector units A, B, C, and assuming the use of the same control cam 118, is determined by the ratio between the cam portions 120 and 121. Assuming a ratio of the heights of the cam portions 120 and 121 which is l 3, and an energization of the electromagnets 106, 106, of the selector units A, B, guide bar 1 will move forwardly of the knitting needles 130 for one needle distance, and three needle distances R when being rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles. The electromagnets magnets 106, 106', of the swing lever selector units A, C, are pe-. riodically energized every time cam 118 has turned an angle of 180, and in the camsections I and III, separately for each cam portion 120, 121.

The selective energization of the electromragnets is effected by well known pulse generators which produce energizing signals under the control of cards, tape, and the like, in accordance with a predetermined program. In the intermediate cam positions, when cam follower roller 116 is located between the cam portions 120 and 121, that is in the cam section II and IV, all electromagnets are de-energized. Since only the direction of the movement of the guide bar 1 is reversed by selective energization of electromagnets 34 and 57, FIGS. 3 to 8 illustrate several operative positions of the stroke control device including the swing lever system 64, 79, and the swing lever selector units A, B, C. The selective energization of the electromagnets 106, 106, 106 of the three swing lever selector units A, B, C, influence the length of the lateral movement of the guide bar 1.

In FIG. 3, the position shown in solid lines schematically indicates the start of the swing lever selector units A and B while the unit C remains inactive. The position corresponds to the starting position shown in FIG. 2 where the guide bar 1 performs a lateral movement for one needle distance 1R, while in this position, upon turning of the control cam 118 through an angle of l80, the guide bar 1, controlled by the high cam portion 121, performs a lateral movement of three needle distances (3R) rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles 130, assuming that the ratio between cam portions 120 and 121 is l 3.

Upon start of the swing lever control units A and C, as shown in FIG. 4, guide bar 1, controlled by the low cam portion 120 of cam 118, makes a lateral movement for two needle distances (2R), while guide bar 1 moves under control of the high cam portion 121 through six needle distances (6R), the ratio between the two distances being again 1 3 in accordance with the cam construction.

In the operational condition shown in FIG. 3, the output member 60 of the stroke control device shown in FIG. 2 moves a distance SR, and in the condition shown in FIG. 4, the output member 60 moves the distance 6R, and the corresponding movements are transmitted to the guide bar 1.

In order to obtain a lateral movement of guide bar 1 forwardly of the knitting needles 130, the swing lever selector unit A, B, C must be started exclusively in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, while for lateral movement of the guide bar 1, rearward of the hooks of the knitting needles 130, under the control of the high cam portion 121, the operation as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 9 may be used. In the condition shown in FIG. 5, the lateral movement of the guide bar 1, rearward of the knitting needles 130, is obtained for one needle distance 1R, in the condition of FIG. 6 for two needle distances 2R, in the condition of FIG. 7 four needle distances 4R, in the position of FIG. 8, five needle distance SR, and in the position of FIG. 9, seven needle distance 7R.'

For a better understanding of FIGS. 3 to 9, and referring to the preceding general description of the operation of the apparatus, it may be noted that due to the energization of the respective electromagnet 106, 106, 106", of the respective units A, B, C, the respective catch 95, 96" moves into the respective arresting recess 97, 97', 97" of the respective connecting rod 83, 88, 73, while upon de-energization of the respective electromagnet 106, 106, 106", the respective catch 95, 95, 95 disengages the arresting recess 97, 97, 97" of the respective connecting rod 83, 88, 73.

Depending on whether the catches 95, 95', 95" are coupled with, and take along the connecting rods 83, 88, 73, upon displacement of the cam follower means 1 11, 116 by earn 118, the displacements of swing levers 79 and 64, illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 9 are obtained, so that the input member 60 of the direction control unit of FIG. 1 performs strokes of different lengths which are transmitted in the desired direction to rack bar 1 1, and by the same the output means 3, 4 of the direction control unit to the guide bar 1.

FIG. 5 shows that by displacement of only connecting rod 88, a movement of member 60 for one needle distance IR is obtained. A movement of only one connecting rod 83, obtains a displacement of member 6 for two needle distances 2R. In FIG. 7, the movement of only one connecting rod 73 obtains a displacement of member 6 for four needle distances 4R. In FIG. 8, the simultaneous movement of connector bars 88 and 73 causes a displacement of member 60 for five needle distances SR, and in FIG. 9, the simultaneous displacement of all three connecting rods 83, 88, 73, causes a displacement of member 60 for seven needle distances 7R.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of apparatus for controlling the movement of a bar of a knitting machine, differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an apparatus for controlling the lateral movement of the yarn guide bar of a warp knitting machine along a needle bar, including'a stroke control device and a direction control device, it is not intended to be limited to the detais shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will sofully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitutes essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for controlling the movement of a yarn guide bar of a warp knitting machine along a needle bar, comprising a stroke control device including an input means, an output means, a drive means for displacing said input means so that said output means is moved, said first program controlled electromagnetic means selectively operable for placing said stroke control device in a plurality of conditions in which said output means performs strokes of different length, said electromagnetic means including a plurality of selectively operable first electromagnets and said stroke control device further including a swing lever system connected with said output means and a plurality of swing lever selector units respectively including said first electromagnets and being controlled by the same to influence said swing lever system, to vary the stroke of said output means for equal displacements of said input means by said drive means, said swing lever system including at least first and second swing levers and a link connecting one end of said first swing lever with said second swing lever spaced from the ends of the same, said output means being connected with said first swing lever spaced from the ends of the same, said selector units including connecting rods, respectively, having first ends connected with the ends of said second swing lever and with the other end of said first swing lever, sleeves mounted on said connecting rods at the second ends thereof, and catches operable by said first electromagnets, respectively, to selectively connect said connecting rods with said sleeves, respectively, said input means being connected with said sleeves for moving said sleeves so that selected connecting rods which are connected by said catches with the respective sleeves are also moved for displacing said first and second swing levers whereby said output means is displaced through different distances depending on the selection of said catches by said first electromagnets; and a direction control device connecting said output means with said yarn guide bar and including second program controlled electromagnetic means for placing said direction control device selectively in a first condition in which said guide bar is moved in one direction and a second condition in which said guide bar is moved in the opposite direction whereby the length and direction of the movements of said guide bar are determined in accordance with a program.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said direction control device further includes two reversing means driven by said output means in opposite directions, respectively, and coupling means operated by said second electromagnetic means to connect one of said reversing means with said guide bar.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said direction control device has a third condition in which said coupling means are disengaged and said guide bar is disconnected from said output means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a rotary cam; and wherein said input means includes cam follower means engaged by said cam and transmitting motion to said selector units.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said swing lever selector units include abutment means; wherein said stroke control device further includes springs acting on said connecting rods tourge said second ends thereof against said abutment means; and wherein said second ends of said connecting rods have arresting recesses for engagement by said catches, respectively.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each swing lever selector unit includes an armature lever cooperating with the respective first electromagnet and being connected with the respective catch, and a spring urging said armature lever away from the respective first electromagnet so that said catch engages the respective connecting rod when the respective first electromagnet is energized, and releases said connecting rod when said first electromagnet is de-energized.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said armature lever has a slot, wherein said catches have studs, respectively, guided in said slots, and including a plurality of return levers cooperating with the free ends of said catches, respectively, and stop means limiting movement of said return levers.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said direction control device includes a pair of interconnected levers connected with said output means of said stroke control device and having end portions moving in opposite directions when said output means moves in one direction, carriers guided for movement and connected with said end portions for movement in opposite directions, gears mounted on said carriers, respectively, a rack bar meshing with said gears, armature levers selectively operated by said second electromagnetic means, and coupling slides mounted on said carriers, respectively, and operated by said armature levers to engage and disengage said gears, and means connecting said rack bar with said guide bar so that said guide bar can be moved in opposite directions by said interconnected levers when said coupling slides are coupled with said gears, respectively.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said second electromagnetic means includes two second electromagnets respectively cooperating with said armature levers, and springs for urging said armature levers away from said second electromagnets; wherein each armature lever has a guide slot; and wherein each coupling slide has a stud guided in said slot so that displace ment of each armature lever causes displacement of the respective coupling slide. 

1. Apparatus for controlling the movement of a yarn guide bar of a warp knitting machine along a needle bar, comprising a stroke control device including an input means, an output means, a drive means for displacing said input means so that said output means is moved, said first program controlled electromagnetic means selectively operable for placing said stroke control device in a plurality of conditions in which said output means performs strokes of different length, said electromagnetic meAns including a plurality of selectively operable first electromagnets and said stroke control device further including a swing lever system connected with said output means and a plurality of swing lever selector units respectively including said first electromagnets and being controlled by the same to influence said swing lever system to vary the stroke of said output means for equal displacements of said input means by said drive means, said swing lever system including at least first and second swing levers and a link connecting one end of said first swing lever with said second swing lever spaced from the ends of the same, said output means being connected with said first swing lever spaced from the ends of the same, said selector units including connecting rods, respectively, having first ends connected with the ends of said second swing lever and with the other end of said first swing lever, sleeves mounted on said connecting rods at the second ends thereof, and catches operable by said first electromagnets, respectively, to selectively connect said connecting rods with said sleeves, respectively, said input means being connected with said sleeves for moving said sleeves so that selected connecting rods which are connected by said catches with the respective sleeves are also moved for displacing said first and second swing levers whereby said output means is displaced through different distances depending on the selection of said catches by said first electromagnets; and a direction control device connecting said output means with said yarn guide bar and including second program controlled electromagnetic means for placing said direction control device selectively in a first condition in which said guide bar is moved in one direction and a second condition in which said guide bar is moved in the opposite direction whereby the length and direction of the movements of said guide bar are determined in accordance with a program.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said direction control device further includes two reversing means driven by said output means in opposite directions, respectively, and coupling means operated by said second electromagnetic means to connect one of said reversing means with said guide bar.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said direction control device has a third condition in which said coupling means are disengaged and said guide bar is disconnected from said output means.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a rotary cam; and wherein said input means includes cam follower means engaged by said cam and transmitting motion to said selector units.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said swing lever selector units include abutment means; wherein said stroke control device further includes springs acting on said connecting rods to urge said second ends thereof against said abutment means; and wherein said second ends of said connecting rods have arresting recesses for engagement by said catches, respectively.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each swing lever selector unit includes an armature lever cooperating with the respective first electromagnet and being connected with the respective catch, and a spring urging said armature lever away from the respective first electromagnet so that said catch engages the respective connecting rod when the respective first electromagnet is energized, and releases said connecting rod when said first electromagnet is de-energized.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said armature lever has a slot, wherein said catches have studs, respectively, guided in said slots, and including a plurality of return levers cooperating with the free ends of said catches, respectively, and stop means limiting movement of said return levers.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said direction control device includes a pair of interconnected levers connected with said output means of said stroke control device and haviNg end portions moving in opposite directions when said output means moves in one direction, carriers guided for movement and connected with said end portions for movement in opposite directions, gears mounted on said carriers, respectively, a rack bar meshing with said gears, armature levers selectively operated by said second electromagnetic means, and coupling slides mounted on said carriers, respectively, and operated by said armature levers to engage and disengage said gears, and means connecting said rack bar with said guide bar so that said guide bar can be moved in opposite directions by said interconnected levers when said coupling slides are coupled with said gears, respectively.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said second electromagnetic means includes two second electromagnets respectively cooperating with said armature levers, and springs for urging said armature levers away from said second electromagnets; wherein each armature lever has a guide slot; and wherein each coupling slide has a stud guided in said slot so that displacement of each armature lever causes displacement of the respective coupling slide. 